Drowning in the Desert by Bernard Schopen is a lively, modern-day western thriller, set sometimes in Las Vegas and sometimes in rural Nevada.

Fats Rangle, an ex-deputy sheriff, finds the two-year-old remains of a plane crash in the mountains and reports it to the authorities. On returning to his home/horse stables, he finds that his ‘cousin’ and employee has not returned from a short trip to Las Vegas. The initial investigation suggests that the cousin may have found the plane wreck before Fats and just may have found the briefcase that was said to have been in the plane, the reason so many big political and business names are keen to speak with Fats.  

Fat’s investigation takes him into the underbelly of Las Vegas where it becomes apparent his cousin had told people he had a lot of money. And that’s why everybody wants a piece of Fats.

This is a very well-crafted plot with some decidedly charming characters that are easy to like and dislike, as per the author’s whim. I enjoyed the setting, which played a significant role in the story. And I found the ending most satisfying.